The Head of the Department (HOD) of Police Roads and Transport, Mr SJ Msibi, solicited R40 000.00 ‘donations’ from contracted service providers to ‘assist’ with payment for a table at an ANC gala dinner held with President Jacob Zuma on 21 July 2016, two weeks before the municipal elections on 03 August 2016.

These revelations come on the heels of a recent Public Protector report into Operation Hlasela that condemns the conflation of party and State in the Free State.

HOD Msibi’s controversial appointment is currently subject to an investigation by the Public Service Commission in the Free State and was the cause of much strife between Premier Ace Magashule and former MEC, Butana Komphela.

The DA has written to the newly appointed Public Protector, Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane, to investigate this matter further.

In addition, the DA will be submitting written questions to all provincial departments to ascertain whether they have solicited such ‘donations’ on behalf of the ANC.

The DA cannot allow this blatant racketeering ring that masquerades as a government in the Free State to continue unabated. Corruption such as this robs the poor and the vulnerable from the services they deserve. It also feeds into the narrative that cadres always eat first to the detriment of the public good.

Issued by Roy Jankielsohn, Leader of the Official Opposition in Free State, 19 October 2016